Hinge



Jan- 27, 1959 I R. c. ANTHONY ET Al.` 2,870,477

HINGE Filed June 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Jam 27, 1959 R. c. ANTHONY ET A1. 2,870,477v

HINGE y Filed June l, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RNEY Jan 27 1959 R. c. ANTHONY ET Al. 2,870,477

HINGE Filed June 1, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 3l INVENTORS Jan. 27, 1959 R. c. ANTHONY ETAL v 2,870,477

HINGE l Filed June 1, 1955 4fsheeis-sheet 21 'INVENTORS United States Patent C) HINGE Robert C. Anthony, Pontiac, and Robert J. Williams,

lawson, Mich., assignors to General Motors `Corporatron, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 1, 1955, Serial No. 512,504

10 Claims. (Cl. 16-164) This invention relates to a hinge and more particularly to a double pivot hinge.

Double pivot hinges are particularly used on panel delivery trucks so that the rear doors of the trucks can be moved to both a partially open position and a fully open position if necessary. The usual double pivot hinge is of the flat link type mounted exteriorly of the truck body or of the butt type having the butt of the hinge exterior of the body between the door and the adjacent door pillar. Both types of hinge have prevented modern styling of the rear quarter area of the truck body with smooth unbroken `contours since either type of hinge is completely concealed from view exteriorly of the truck body.

This invention provides a double pivot hinge allowing the rear 'doors of the truck to be moved to either partially open or fully open position and which is completely concealed from view exteriorly of the truck body. The hinge of this invention provides further improvements in double pivot hinges by having a definite but yieldable hold open effect'in the partially open position of the door and either a definite but yieldable or a light hold open effect in the fully open position of the door.

An object of this inention is to provide a new and improved double pivot hinge which is concealed from view exteriorly of the vehicle body. Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved double pivot hinge having a definite but yieldable hold open effect in the partially open position of the door and a light hold open effect in the fully open position of the door. A further object of this vinvention is to provide a new and improved double pivot hinge having a definite but yieldable hold open effect in both the fully open and partially open positions of the door.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and. drawings, in which:

Figure ll is a rear view of a panel truck having the truck doors supported on the body by double pivot hinges according to thisinvention, with one door being shown in closed position and the otherdoor being shown in fully open position;

Figure y2 is an enlarged perspective view of a double pivot hinge according to this invention when the door is'in closed position;

lFigure 3 is "n enlarged plan view of the lhinge of Figurey 2 showing'the'door in partially open position;

Figure 4 is an yenlarged planview onthe plane indicated by line3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a modified hinge.

Referring now to Figures 1, 2, -and3 of Ithe drawings, a panel truck includesreardoors12and 1(4- swingably mounted von the truck body by upper and lower hinges'l and 18, respectively, with door 12 shown in fully open position and door 14 shown in closed position. The upper and lower hinges are of similar Vconstruction and,l therefore, only vthe lower-"hinge `will be'described.

The primary hinge box 2l) includes an upper wall 22 and a lower wall 24 joined by a vertical wall, not shown, and mounting flanges 26 and 28 provided with elongated slots 30 and 32, respectively. The hinge box is mounted within the door pillar 34 of the body, Figure 3, by bolts 36 fitting Within the slots 30 and 32. Since the slots are elongated, the hinge ,box maybe adjusted relative to the door pillar. A hinge arm 38 of double gooseneck shape, Figure 3, is pivotally mounted within hinge box 20 by means of pin 40 fixed to the upper and p lower walls of the box by peening over the ends offthe pin after assembly. A pin 42 fixed within the hinge box in a similar manner as pin 40, pivotally supports an arm 44 having a tab 47 and a cam contour edge 46 which includes a notch 48. A tension spring 49 has one end 50 hooked within a notch 52 in the upper wall 22 of the hinge box and the other end 54 hooked to tab 47. Spring 49 holds arm 44 in engagement with a roller 56 which is pivotally mounted on the upper edge of hinge arm 38 adjacent the pivot of the hinge arm on vpin 40. Pivotal movement of the hinge arm about pin 72. This hinge box is secured to a reinforcing panely 74 of door 12 by bolts 76 fitting within slots 72. The hinge box 58 is adjustable with respect to the reinforcing panel by means of the elongated slots 72. The other end of hinge arm 38 is pivotally mounted within hinge box 58 by means of 4pin 78 extending through the upper and lower Walls of the hinge box, with the ends of -the pin being peened over after installation. A pin mounted vwithin the hinge box in a similar manner as pin 78 pivotally supports an arm 82 having a cam contour edge 84 which includes a notch 86. A spring 88 having one end hooked within a notch in the edge of the upper wall 60 of the hinge box and the other end hooked within tab 92 of arm 82 holds the arm in engagement with a roller 94 pivotally mounted on the upper edge of hinge arm 38 adjacent the pivot'offthe hingearm `on pin 78. Pivotal movement of door 12 about the pivot 78 of the hinge arm causes roller 94 to move along' the cam contour edge 84 of arm 82 since the'arm and roller are ycontinuously held in engagement by spring 48. Pin 80 acts asa positive stop when the hinge arm and door are moved to. partially open position as will be hereinafter described. A pin 96 fixed within the hinge box 58 in a similar manner as pin 80 acts as a positive stop lin the fully open position of the door as will be hereinafterA described. Thus, it can be seen that each hinge box is of substantially the same construction except that the secondary hinge box-58 mounts an additional fixed pin 96.

Referring now to Figure 2, it can be seen that when the door is in closedy position, roller 56 engages cam contour edge 46 of varm 44 adjacent the free end of the arm and roller 94 engages notch 86 of arm 82, with spring 49 holding arm 44 in engagement with roller 56 p to further swingingY movement of the hinge arm about Patented Jan. 27,

pin 40. The engagement of roller 94 within notch 86 prevents any pivotal movement of the door about pivot 78 as the hinge arm is moved to its position of Figure 3, since more force is required to breal(` roller 94 out of notch 86 than is required to move roller S6 along the edge 46 of arm 44 into engagement with notch 48.

Whenthe door has been moved to partially open position as shown in Figure 3, hinge arm 38 bears against pin 42 to positively restrain further movement `of the hinge arm outboard of the body and the engagement of roller 56 within notch 48 yieldingly restrains movement of the hinge arm inboard of the body. The engagement of the hinge arm with pin 80 prevents inboard movement of the door relative to the hinge arm about pivot 78 and the engagement of roller 94 within notch 86 yieldingly restrains further opening movement of the door relative to the hinge arm. Thus a definite but yieldable hold `open effect is provided for door 12 in its partially open position.

When the door is moved from its partially open position of Figure 3 towards its fully open position of Figure 4, hinge arm 38 remains stationary and the door pivots about pin 78. As previously described, closing movement of the hinge arm is yieldingly restrained by the engagement of roller 56 within notch 48 and further opening movement of the hinge arm about pin 40 beyond its position of Figure 3 is positively restrained by pin 42. Thus, to open the door to its fully open position, enough force must be yapplied to the door to break roller 94 out of notch 86 so that the roller will move along the cam contour edge 84 of arm 82 and come to rest adjacent the free end of the arm as shown in Figure 4. When the door has been moved to fully open position the hinge arm engages pin 96 to positively restrain further opening movement of the door so that roller 94 will not move beyond the edge of arm 84.

In the fully open position of the door, the hold open effect of the hinge is light compared with the definite but yieldable hold open effect of the hinge in the partially open position of the door. This light hold open efect is sufiicient to retain the door in this position unless enough force is applied to the door to move the door back to its partially open position where the definite but yieldable hold open effect caused by the engagement of the roller 94 within the notch 86 is much greater. In certain present panel trucks the hinge axes, either pins 4t) or 78, are inclined to the vertical, and this inclination of the axes of either or both the upper and lower hinges will further aid in increasing the hold open effect of the hinge in the fully open position of the doors.

As the door is closed from its fully open position to its partially open position, there is no movement of the hinge arm about pivot 40 since a greater force is required to break roller 56 out of notch 48 than is required to move roller 94 along the edge 84 of arm 82 until the roller engages notch 86. When the door is moved from its partially open position to its closed position, enough force must be applied to the door to break roller 56 out of notch 48. The roller moves along the edge 46 of arm 44 and assumes its position adjacent the free end of the arm as shown in Figure 2 when the door is fully closed. Pivotal movement of the door about pin 78 is positively restrained by engagement of the hinge arm with pin 80.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, the hinge Shown therein is thesame as the hinge already described, except that arm 84 has a relatively shallow notch 98 adjacent the free end of the arm so that when the door is in fully open position the hold open etiect ot the hinge is greater than the hold open effect of the hinge shown in Figure 4. As already described, this hold open effect may also be increased by inclination of either or both hinge axes to the horizontal. Other than this additional feature, the hinge shown in Figure 5 is substantially the same asthe hinge shown in Figure 4.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved double pivot hinge which is completely concealed from view exteriorly of the vehicle body and which provides a definite but yieldable hold open effect in the partially open position of the door and either a definite but yieldable or a light hold open effect in the fully open position of the door. Although the hinge has been shown and described in conjunction with a panel delivery truck, it is obvious that the hinge has many uses in other installations where it is desired to have the doors movable nen closed, partially open, and fully `open positions, 't definite but yieldable hold open effect in the partially open position and either a definite but' yieldable or a light hold open effect. in the fully open position of the doors.

.although specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the invention.

We claim:

l. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body` for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, a. first cam on said closure having ahold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is iny intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, a second cam on said body having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said Closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said hinge armV relative to said body in a, closure closing direction,.and stop means on said closure engageable with said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in closure closing direction whereby movement of said closure in closure closing direction will cause said hinge arm to override said hold open detent of said` second cam andallow said closure to be moved to closed position.

2. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, a tirst cam on said closure having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relativer to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, a second cam on said body having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said hinge varm relative to said body in closure closing direction,y and stop means on said body engageable with said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction whereby movement of said closure in a closure opening direction from said intermediate position to said open position will cause said hinge arm to override said detent of said first cam.

3. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehiclebody for movement of the closure between closedy n u n u n e u mtermedlate and open positions comprlsmg, 1n combination, a hinge arm pivotallyconnected to said closure and.

said body for swinging movement relative to, each. about a stationary pivotal axis, a first cam on said body having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate. position-torestrain pivotal movementf of said hinge arm relativeto said body in a closure. closing direction, a first stop, on said body engageable with said I sure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of `said hinge arm relative to said bodyin a closure hinge arm when said clo-v opening direction, a second cam on said closure having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, a second stop on said closure engageable with said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure closing direction whereby movement of said closure in a closure closing direction when in intermediate position will cause said hinge arm to override said detent of said first cam and allow said closure to be moved to closed position and movement of said closure in a closure opening direction when in intermediate position will cause said hinge arm to override said detent of said second cam and allow said closure to be moved to open position.

4. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, a first cam on said body having a hold open detent yieldably engaging said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in Ia closure closing direction, a fixed stop on the body engageable with the hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction, and a second cam on said closure having second and third hold open detents,` said second hold open detent being in yieldable engagement with said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said intermediate portion to said open position causing said hinge-arm to override said second hold open detent and to Amove-into yieldable engagement with said third hold open detent to restraint movement of said closure from said open position to said intermediate position.

5. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between close-d, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, iirst and second spaced cam followers on said hinge arm, a first cam on said body having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said iirst follower in engagement with said cam surface when said closure is in closed position, a second cam on said closure having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said second follower in engagement with said detent of said second cam when said closure is in closed position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction whereby movement of said closure from closed to intermediate position will cause said first cam follower to move along said cam surface of said first cam and into engagement with said hold open detent of said first cam to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction.

6. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, iirst and second spaced cam followers on said hinge arm, a iirst cam on said body having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said irst follower in engagement with said cam surface when said closure is in closed position, a stop on said body engageable by said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction, a second cam on said closure having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said second follower in engagement with said detent of said secondv cam when said closure is in closed position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a'closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said closed position to said intermediate position causing said irst cam follower to move along said cam surface of said first cam and into engagement with said iirst hold open detent to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction, and movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said open position causing said second cam follower to override said dentent of said second cam and to move along said cam surface of said second cam.

7. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, first and second spaced cam followers on said hinge arm, a iirst cam on said body having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said iirst follower in engagement with said cam surface when said closure is in closed position, a stop on said `body engageable by said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction, a second cam on said closure having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means-yieldably holding said second follower in engagementwith said detent of said second cam when said closure is in closed position to restrain pivotal movement of said Iclosure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said closed position to said intermediate position causing said iirst cam follower to move along said cam surface of said irst cam and into engagement with said hold open detent to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction, movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said open position causing said second cam follower to` override said detent of said second cam and to move along said cam surface of said second cam, and a stop on said closure engageable by said hinge arm when said closure is in open position to prevent pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction.

8. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and -open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, first and second spaced cam followers on said hinge arm, a first cam on said body having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, means yieldably holding said first follower in engagement with said cam surface when said closure is in closed position, a second cam on said closure having a cam surface provided with spaced hold open detents, means yieldably holding said second follower in engagement with one of said detents of said second cam when said closure is in closed position to restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said closed position to said intermediate position causing said first' cam follower to move along said cam surface of said first cam and into engagement with said hold open detent of said first cam to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction, a stop on said body engageable by said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of saidl hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said open position causing said second cam follower to override said one of said detents and move along said cam surface into engagement with the other of said detents to yieldably restrain pivotal' movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure closing direction.

9. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a vehicle body for movement of the' closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, first and second cam followers on said hinge arm, a first lever pivotally supported on said body and having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, resilient means interconnecting said lever and said body whereby said cam surface of said lever is held in engagement with said first follower when said closure is in closed position, a second lever pivotally supported on said closure and having a cam surface provided with a hold open detent, resilient means interconnecting said second lever and saidl closure whereby said detent of said second lever is yieldably held in engagement with said second cam follower when said closure is in closed position, movement of said closure from closed position to intermediate position causing said first cam follower to move along said cam surface of said first cam and into engagement with said hold open detent of said first cam to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction, a stop on said closure engageable with said hinge arm to prevent pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure closing direction when said closure is in intermediate position, movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said closed position causing said first cam follower to override said detent of said cam surface of said first cam and to move along said -cam surface.

10. A hinge for swingably mounting a closure on a Vehicle body for movement of the closure between closed, intermediate and open positions comprising, in combination, a hinge arm pivotally connected to said closure and said body for swinging movement relative to each about a stationary pivotal axis, first and second cam followers on said hinge arm adjacent the pivotal connections thereof with said body and said closure, a first lever pivotally supported at one end thereof on said body and having a cam edge provided with a hold open detent, resilient means interconnecting the other end of said lever and said body to maintain said lever in engagement with said first cam follower, said first cam follower being located in engagement with said cam edge when said closure is in closed position, a second lever pivotally supported at one end thereof on said closure and having a cam edge provided with a hold open detent, resilient means interconnecting the other end of said lever and said closure to maintain said lever in engagement with said second cam follower, said second ycam follower being located in engagement with said hold open detent of said second cam when said closure is in closed position to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said closure relative to said hinge arm in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from closed position to intermediate position causing said first cam follower to move along said cam edge and into engagement with said hold open detent to yieldably restrain pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure closing direction, a stop on said body engageable with said hinge arm when said closure is in intermediate position to prevent pivotal movement of said hinge arm relative to said body in a closure opening direction, movement of said closure from said intermediate position to said open position causing said second cam follower to override said hold open detent and to move along said cam edge of said second lever to a position adjacent said other/end thereof to provide a relatively light hold open effect in the open position of said closure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 959,971 Tobey May 31, 1910 1,409,525 Cox Mar. 14, 1922 1,667,010 Murnane Apr. 24, 1928 1,694,764 Beringer Dec. 11, 1928 1,735,696 Ridley Nov. 12, 1929 2,295,638 Doman Sept. 15, 1942 2,313,582 Rees Mar. 9, 1943 2,320,772 Doman June 1, 1943 2,513,751 Semar July 4, 1950 2,621,359 Schuyler Dec. 16, 1952 2,693,616 Cromwell et a1. Nov. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 488,076 canada Nov. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIACE CERTIFICATE 0F vCORRECTI01\I Patent No. 2,870,477 January 27gl l959 Robert C Anthony et al It is herebr Certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 26, for "e'ithery read me neither m; column 59 line` 37, for "portion" read n position ma; line AO, for Hrestraintn read restrain column Sy line 2y for "with" read by me,

Signed and sealed this' 21st day of July 1959,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oicer Commissioner of Patents 

